SBS’s “My Demon” is a new fantasy rom-com about the contractual marriage between Do Do Hee, a demon-like chaebol heiress who doesn’t trust anyone (played by Kim Yoo Jung), and Jung Gu Won, an actual demon who unexpectedly loses his powers (played by Song Kang).
This highly anticipated SBS rom-com ‘My Demon,’ starring Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang, was one of the most awaited K-dramas in 2023. However, after its official launch on November 24th on Netflix, the drama faced severe criticism from audiences, with the opening ratings dropping from 4.5% to 3.4% the next night. Many viewers expressed disappointment, noting that there was nothing particularly novel or outstanding about the drama, aside from the stunning visuals and the appearance of the two main leads. Some even went as far as to suggest that the drama seemed like a copy of ‘Goblin.’
In addition to criticism of the drama’s plot, the acting skills of the two main lead actors, Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang, were also criticized. Song Kang, also known as the son of Netflix, has received positive reviews and praise for his previous works like “Love Alarm,” “Forecasting Love and Weather,” “Nevertheless,” and ‘Sweet Home’. However, this time his acting in ‘My Demon’ was criticized by Korean audiences. They bluntly said that even if he is too good-looking, his acting skills are terrible at times, including his pronunciation.
Surprisingly, it’s not just Song Kang; this time, Kim Yoo Jung’s acting skills were also criticized. Many said, “Song Kang’s acting is not that good, we were prepared for it, but what happened to Kim Yoo Jung?” Many viewers felt that Kim Yoo Jung looked way too young, and playing the role of a chaebol representative heiress was like a child pretending to be an adult.
Adding to these issues, the screenwriter of “My Demon” once wrote the popular time-travel comedy “Mr. Queen.” “Mr. Queen (2020)” is still a popular masterpiece overseas, but not in South Korea. Because there were many plots in the play that Koreans considered to be “distorted history”, the screenwriter Choi Ah Il was severely criticized in South Korea at the time. Recently, many Korean netizens discovered that “My Demon” was also the work of screenwriter Choi Ah Il, and expressed their disappointment with the writer’s works.
‘My Demon’ is currently premiering on Netflix.
